Professional Documents
Culture Documents
o Different kinds of map question
o Structure
o Describing specific changes
o Describing general changes
o Describing locations
o Sample answer
You will also be able to learn some new vocabulary that will help you deal with any Task
1 maps question.
In the IELTS writing test you might be asked to describe a map in task 1. This type of
question is becoming increasingly popular- in fact it was on the exam last weekend here
in Vietnam- and in my opinion, the easiest one to score high marks in, if you’re
prepared.
Many students, books and teachers overlook this type of question and it is therefore a
bit of a shock when one comes up. Therefore, if you are prepared you will probably do
better than most of the other students.
The first kind is very rare, as it only requires you to use the present simple and it is
impossible for any comparisons to be made.
The second kind does come up occasionally and would require you to use present and
future tenses. This kind of question is normally about the future development of a town
or city. It requires the same vocabulary as the other two.
The third is the most common and will be the main focus of this post.
You will normally be shown two maps, as above and asked to select and report the main
features, and make comparisons where relevant. You will obviously be using both
present and past tenses to describe the maps and how the town has developed.
Structure
To describe two maps I advise my students to follow a four paragraph structure.
Paragraph 2- Overview
Make two general statements about the map. You should describe the maps generally
and write about the most noticeable differences between the two maps. You could ask
yourself the following questions to identify general changes. Is the map more or less
residential? Is there more or less countryside? Are there more or less trees? Were the
changes dramatic or negligible? Were there any major improvements in infrastructure?
How have the buildings and leisure facilities changed?
Further three to four sentences about specific changes that have occurred.
Look at the sample answer below to see how I have used this structure.
Below I will list various buildings and features and verbs we could describe their change.
Examples:
The factory in the city centre was demolished and relocated to the north of the city.
The old warehouses were replaced with new hotels.
Examples:
Examples:
Below are some examples of general statements we could use to describe change in
towns and cities.
Pick two or three of the most noticeable differences in the map and write a general
statement for each. This will be your overview paragraph.
The more specific changes should be included in your main body paragraphs.
You can use ‘to the left’ and ‘to the right’, but a better way is to use ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’
and ‘west’. I normally advise my students to draw the symbols on the question paper if
they are not already there.
Examples:
The school to the south-east was knocked down and a new one built to the east of
the forest.
Examples:
Dramatic changes took place in the city centre.
Sample Answer
Source: Cambridge English Practice Papers.
Both maps display an island, before and after it was developed for tourism.
The island is approximately 250 metres long, has palm trees dotted around it, is
surrounded by ocean and has a beach to the west. Over the period, the island was
completely transformed with the addition of a hotel and a pier; however, the eastern
part of the island appears to have been left undeveloped.
The most noticeable additions are the hotel rooms. 6 buildings, surrounding some trees,
have been built in the west of the island and 9 buildings have been constructed in the
centre of the island. Between the two accommodation areas, a reception building and a
restaurant have been developed.
A pier has also been built on the south coast of the island, allowing yachts access to the
resort. Apart from the trees, the beach remains the only natural feature to remain
relatively untouched; however, it does appear that it is now used for swimming.
(160 words)
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.
(Body paragraph 1)
Looking at the table, Hindi speakers achieved the highest score overall with 6.73 and
Malayalam speakers were the second highest with 0.30 point lower than Hindi speakers. In
listening, Hindi speakers achieved 6.78 while Malayalam speakers scored with 0.47 point lower
than Hindis.
(Body para 2)